Post-game Notes: BYU-TCU

a-beck-TCU_1a-beck-TCU_1

FIRST DRIVE SUCCESS

BYU's string of three consecutive games of scoring a touchdown on its opening drive came to an end against TCU. The Horned Frogs held the Cougars to a three-and-out on their first possession. A field goal on BYU's second possession put the Cougars ahead 3-0 and marked the fourth consecutive game the Cougars scored first.

QUARTER-BY-QUARTER

BYU outscored TCU in three of four quarters on Thursday. (The two teams each scored seven points in the third quarter.) On the season, BYU has outscored its opponents (during regulation) in 15 of 20 quarters.

SCORELESS STREAK ENDS

Coming off a 38-0 shutout victory over Utah State, BYU's defense held its opponent scoreless for nearly six consecutive quarters. TCU's Chris Manfredini hit a 36-yard field goal with four seconds remaining in the second quarter to cut BYU's lead to 10-3.

SPEAKING OF STREAKS...

BYU's victory over TCU snapped the Horned Frogs NCAA-best 13-game winning streak.

HALFTIME LEAD

BYU took a lead to half time for its fifth consecutive game this season. The Cougars' 10-3 halftime lead over TCU marks the largest margin they have taken to the halftime break on the road.

ANOTHER NATIONAL TV FIRST

BYU's game against TCU was broadcast to a national audience on VERSUS. It was the first college football broadcast by the network. The game marked the third time BYU has been in a game for a network's first live broadcast. Other broadcast first include the Cougars' games at Pittsburgh on ESPN (1984) and against UNLV on TBS (1982).

QUARTER "BECK" UPDATE

BYU quarterback John Beck completed 23-of-37 attempts for a game-high 321 yards and three touchdowns in the Cougars' 31-17 victory over No. 15 TCU. With his performance, Beck passed John Walsh (8,390) and Robbie Bosco (8,400) to move into third place on BYU's all-time career passing list. The senior quarterback has 8,422 career passing yards. In addition, with three touchdown completions on the night, Beck moved into a tie with Gifford Nielsen for seventh place on BYU's all-time touchdown completion list. Beck has 55 career touchdown passes.

GOOD GRIEF, CURTIS BROWN

Senior running back Curtis Brown carried the ball 16 times for 56 yards, moving into fourth place on BYU's all-time rushing list. Brown, who has 2,523 career rushing yards passed Pete Van Valkenburg (2,492) and Luke Staley (2,493) with his performance on Thursday.

"BLUE" ZONE STATS

BYU was three-for-three from inside the "Blue Zone." Two of the Cougars' four touchdowns were passes that came from outside the 20-yard line, including a 40-yard touchdown grab by Texas native Michael Reed and a 26-yard touchdown reception from Matt Allen.

RANKED OPPONENTS

When BYU beat No. 15/17 TCU it marked the first time the Cougars defeated a ranked opponent since Sept. 16, 1999, when the Cougars beat No. 23 Colorado State 34-13. The Cougars entered the game having lost 13-consecutive games against ranked opponents. The game also marked the first road victory over a ranked opponent since Sept. 20, 1997 (at Arizona State).